Fukuoka is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, situated on the northern shore of the Japanese island of Kyushu. It is the most populous city on the island, followed by Kitakyushu. It is the largest city and metropolitan area west of Keihanshin. The city was designated on April 1, 1972, by government ordinance. Greater Fukuoka, with a population of 2.5 million people (2005 census), is part of the heavily industrialized Fukuoka–Kitakyushu zone.

As of 2015, Fukuoka is Japan's sixth largest city, having passed the population of Kobe. In July 2011, Fukuoka surpassed the population of Kyoto. Since the founding of Kyoto in 794, this marks the first time that a city west of the Kinki region has a larger population than Kyoto. In ancient times, however, the area near Fukuoka, the Chikushi region, was thought by some historians to have possibly been even more influential than the Yamato region.

Hakata Bay was the site of a storm—what the Japanese called a kamikaze (“divine wind”)—in 1281 that scattered and sank a large fleet of invading Mongols and thus saved Japan from foreign occupation.

An ancient port, Fukuoka is now a regional commercial, industrial, administrative, and cultural centre. The city contains an active fishing port and has extensive rail and road connections with Kitaky?sh? and with cities along the western side of Kyushu, including a branch of the Shinkansen (bullet train). Fukuoka is the seat of Kyushu University (1911). Hakata ningyo (“dolls”), elaborately costumed ceramic figurines found in most Japanese homes, are made in the city.
 

• Between 2010 and 2015, Fukuoka’s population increased by 5.1 percent — more than any other cities in Japan
   
• Fukuoka owes its survival to kamikaze. In 1274, a Mongol fleet attacked. They made it as far as Hakata Bay before a typhoon wrecked their ships
   
• The modern city was formed on April 1, 1889, with the merger of the former cities of Hakata and Fukuoka
  With 4.2 restaurants for every 1,000 people, Fukuoka is second only to Tokyo for the highest concentration of restaurants in Japan
   
• The city has the highest concentration of beauty salons of any Japanese metropolis: 8.38 for every 10,000 female residents
  Since March 2015, Fukuoka is home to the world’s first hydrogen refueling station powered by sewage
   

Japan's local government system is in accordance with a provision of the Japanese Constitution in that prefectures and municipalities administer local affairs. For example, municipalities are focused on the operation of public services such as education, social welfare, water and sewage services, while prefectural responsibilities are more comprehensive including affairs which control multiple municipalities. Fukuoka City, on the other hand, is authorized to perform some of the prefectural responsibilities.

This is because a city with a population of over 500,000 is entitled to greater authority than other municipalities and is designated as such by a government ordinance. Local public entities have a decision making assembly and a head of an executive organization. The head's role is to execute what has been decided by the assembly through his/her guidance and supervision over government employees.Assembly members and the head are both elected, and better governance is ensured through separation of powers, checks and balances, and cooperation.

Citizens 20 years and older have a right to vote in the City Council elections. Citizens 25 years and older are eligible to run for a council.There are 7 constituencies for the City Council which fall on 7 administrative wards of the Fukuoka City. Each constituency has a quota.

Otherwise they are allowed to directly appeal to the City Council. Once the petition is filed, a discussion at a council committee will follow. A petition adopted by the committee will be passed to the relevant department including the Mayor and will be put into practice. City Council sessions are in principle open to the public. Committee meetings may be observed with permission from the committee chairperson.
 

Fukuoka is the economic center of the Kyushu region, with an economy largely focused on the service sector. It is also the largest startup city in Japan, and is the only economic zone for startups.[ They have various services for startups like startup visa, tax reduction, and free business consultations. Fukuoka has the highest business-opening rate in Japan. Large companies headquartered in the city include Iwataya and Kyushu Electric Power. Fukuoka is also the home of many small firms playing a supportive role in the logistics, IT, and high-tech manufacturing sectors. Most of the region's heavy manufacturing takes place in the nearby city of Kitakyushu.The GDP in Greater Fukuoka, Fukuoka Metropolitan Employment Area, was US$101.6 billion in 2010. Fukuoka is the primary economic center of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu metropolitan area, which is the 4th largest economy in Japan. As of 2014, the area's PPP-adjusted GDP is estimated to be larger than those of metropolitan areas such as Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Lima, Vienna, Barcelona and Rome.

Several regional broadcasters are based in the city, including Fukuoka Broadcasting Corporation, Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, Love FM, RKB Mainichi Broadcasting, and Television Nishinippon Corporation. The port of Hakata and Fukuoka Airport also make the city a key regional transportation hub. Fukuoka houses the headquarters of Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) and Nishi-Nippon Railroad. Air Next, a subsidiary of All Nippon Airways, is headquartered in Hakata-ku; prior to its dissolution, Harlequin Air was also headquartered in Hakata-ku.Fukuoka has its own stock exchange, founded in 1949. It is one of six in Japan.Fukuoka is one of the more affordable cities in Japan. Compared to New York City, rents are ~80% lower, restaurants are ~50% cheaper, and groceries are 

Kyushu, a major island that lies in the southwest part of Japan, is noted for its great scenic beauty. The area now known as Fukuoka Prefecture, which has flourished as the focus of Kyushu since ancient times, is located exactly midway between Tokyo and Shanghai . Fukuoka Prefecture has two international airports. The expansive aviation network here operates approximately 300 international flights weekly to major cities in Asia and approximately 370 domestic flights daily to major Japanese cities, making Fukuoka an ideal location for business ventures targeting the Japanese and Asian markets.

Fukuoka is equipped with an excellent motor expressway system that links the prefecture to Greater Tokyo, Kansai and almost all of the other regions of Japan. Construction is advancing on a new expressway in the Kita-Kyushu region , a move also indicative of the push to build up an even more extensive business base.Fukuoka Airport, one of the most convenient airports in the world, lies a mere 10 minutes from the center of Fukuoka City, offering perhaps the smoothest access of any airport in Japan. Kita-Kyushu Airport, a facility built over the ocean, is located at the hub of an area distinguished by a heavy concentration of auto industry operations. Both Hakata Port and the Kita-Kyushu Port operate about 35 regular international container routes each. They offer comfortable access while excelling as key international distribution bases and ocean gateways to Western Japan. The Shinkansen bullet train line links Fukuoka to Tokyo in 5 hours, to Nagoya in 3.5 hours and to Osaka in 2.5 hours. The Kyushu Shinkansen fully opened in March 2011.

Fukuoka Waterfront area (Chuo port and Hakata port) has currently been redeveloped by Fukuoka city. As the number of cruise ships from Asia or MICE events have increased recently, Fukuoka Waterfront area becomes a top class exchange hub in Japan for inbound and outbound visitors. Three suitable logistic centers in the northern part of Kyushu are indicated as below.

1.Fukuoka IC area connecting Kyushu Expressway and Fukuoka

2.Hakata Port area including a port development zone in Island City

3.Tosu JCT area located at the crossing of Kyushu Expressway, Nagasaki Expressway and Oita Expressway